While we’ve seen Marvel Studios drastically shift its strategy for releases, both theatrically and on Disney+, to focus on quality over quantity,  in 2025, there will be over nine different films and shows coming from Marvel Studios, three films, three live-action shows and three animated series.  

But 2025 is likely going to be a little different, since some of these projects have been in development for a while and need to get some of them out before the end stage of the Multiverse Saga, which will conclude with “Avengers: Secret Wars” in 2027.

In 2024, we’ve only seen two Marvel shows released on Disney+: “Echo” and “Agatha All Along,” while 2025 has three: “Ironheart,” “Daredevil: Born Again,” and “Wonder Man.” I do have a sneaky suspicion that “Wonder Man” could do what “The Book of Boba Fett” did by releasing around New Year’s 2026, so technically, it is a 2025 release.

During a recent interview with Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Bergman, he confirmed that they are likely going to continue to restrict Marvel Studios to just two Disney+ shows per year.

Well, Agatha was certainly a big win for us, and widened out the audience that watches the Marvel titles. The movies have primarily been more male than female, and Agatha gave us an opportunity to try to hit the female audience more as well. As it relates to the number of titles, I don’t think we’re going to go beyond — at least I don’t have any plans to go beyond —  the two a year at this point. But, you know, you never know. It just depends on what creative comes up as we look at each of our development titles.

Alan also explained more details on how they are trying to keep budgets for its Marvel shows under control, as during the pandemic, some of the costs of these major shows ballooned, such as “Secret Invasion”, to over $200 million.  While “Agatha All Along” and “Echo” were both made on a budget of just a quarter of that. 

In terms of costs, we’ve been looking at our costs  very hard trying to make these titles as economical as possible. And some of them will have less visual effects than others, which can have a substantial impact on the cost. So clearly those with big visual effects cost significantly more. We have certain titles we’re looking at now that we’re testing that will have less visual effects and they’re more moderately priced.

But the whole goal, in whatever we do, is quality. It’s the most important thing, and we won’t do anything that we don’t think is quality. So I think what you’re going to see is a mix of those series that have more visual effects and will certainly be more expensive. And then you’re going to see some titles that are less expensive because they have less visual effects. But what they’ll both have are great stories.

While 2025 is going to be a busy year for Marvel releases on Disney+, going forward, things are going to be much quieter since we know only a few shows are currently in development, “Nova”, “Vision” and a second season of “Daredevil: Born Again”. 

Roger’s Take: I still remember when Marvel revealed its plans for 2023, which included four films, five live-action shows, and multiple animated projects, and thinking that it was just too much.  Many of those projects got delayed, and I think it was for the better, on a number of levels.  Between three films and two shows a year, I think that’s more than enough to keep Marvel fans happy, balancing the big-budget movies with smaller stories on Disney+, with a couple of animated projects thrown in to mix things up for the die-hard fans and kids.   Disney can’t afford to spend over $200 million on a show that doesn’t deliver massive viewership, especially when they could spend that money on a film and generate bigger box office returns.  The idea of a Disney+ series being on par with the budget of a movie sounds good in theory, but in reality, it just doesn’t work.

Do you think two Marvel shows a year on Disney+ is enough?  Let me know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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